Non-invasive Markers of Liver Fibrosis: Adjuncts or Alternatives to Liver Biopsy?

Glycated haemoglobin is a major predictor of disease severity in patients with NAFLD

OBJECTIVES

Currently, non-invasive scoring systems to stage the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) do not consider markers of glucose control (glycated haemoglobin, HbA1c); this study aimed to define the relationship between HbA1c and NAFLD severity in patients with and without type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Data were obtained from 857 patients with liver biopsy staged NAFLD. Generalized-linear models and binomial regression analysis were used to define the relationships between histological NAFLD severity, age, HbA1c, and BMI. Paired biopsies from interventional studies (n = 421) were used to assess the impact of change in weight, HbA1c and active vs. placebo treatment on improvements in steatosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and fibrosis.

RESULTS

In the discovery cohort (n = 687), risk of severe steatosis, NASH and advanced fibrosis correlated positively with HbA1c, after adjustment for obesity and age. These data were endorsed in a separate validation cohort (n = 170). Predictive modelling using HbA1c and age was non-inferior to the established non-invasive biomarker, Fib-4, and allowed the generation of HbA1c, age, and BMI adjusted risk charts to predict NAFLD severity. Following intervention, reduction in HbA1c was associated with improvements in steatosis and NASH after adjustment for weight change and treatment, whilst fibrosis change was only associated with weight change and treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

HbA1c is highly informative in predicting NAFLD severity and contributes more than BMI. Assessments of HbA1c must be a fundamental part of the holistic assessment of patients with NAFLD and, alongside age, can be used to identify patients with highest risk of advanced disease.

Serum biomarkers for liver fibrosis assessment

Liver fibrosis is the result of chronic liver injury of different etiologies produced by an imbalance between the synthesis and degeneration of the extracellular matrix and dysregulation of physiological mechanisms. Liver has a high regenerative capacity in the early stage of chronic diseases so a prompt liver fibrosis detection is important. Consequently, an easy and economic tool that could identify patients with liver fibrosis at the initial stages is needed. To achieve this, many non-invasive serum direct, such as hyaluronic acid or metalloproteases, and indirect biomarkers have been proposed to evaluate liver fibrosis. Also, there have been developed formulas that combine these biomarkers, some of them also introduce clinical and/or demographic parameters, like FIB-4, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS), enhance liver fibrosis (ELF) or Hepamet fibrosis score (HFS). In this manuscript we critically reviewed different serum biomarkers and formulas for their utility in the diagnosis and progression of liver fibrosis.

Biomarcadores séricos para la evaluación de la fibrosis hepática

La fibrosis hepática se desarrolla como respuesta a la presencia de daño hepático crónico de diferentes etiologías, provocando un desequilibrio entre la síntesis y degeneración de la matriz extracelular y la desregulación de diversos mecanismos fisiológicos. En los estadios iniciales de las patologías crónicas, el hígado posee una elevada capacidad de regeneración, por lo que la detección temprana de la fibrosis hepática resulta esencial. En este contexto, es preciso contar con herramientas sencillas y económicas que permitan detectar la fibrosis hepática en sus fases iniciales. Para evaluar la fibrosis hepática, se han propuesto multitud de biomarcadores séricos no invasivos, tanto directos, como el ácido hialurónico o las metaloproteasas, como indirectos. Así mismo, se han desarrollado diversas fórmulas que combinan dichos biomarcadores junto con parámetros demográficos, como el índice FIB-4, el índice de fibrosis en la enfermedad de hígado graso no alcohólico (NFS, por sus siglas en inglés), la prueba ELF o el score de fibrosis Hepamet (HFS, por sus siglas en inglés). En el presente manuscrito, realizamos una revisión crítica del valor diagnóstico y pronóstico de los diferentes biomarcadores séricos y fórmulas actualmente existentes.

Combination Therapy of Endoscopic Gastric Remodeling with GLP-1RA for the Treatment of MASLD

PURPOSE

The mainstay of treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is weight loss. Endoscopic gastric remodeling (EGR) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) are effective weight loss therapies. This study aims to assess the effect of combining EGR with GLP-1RA on liver-related outcomes and weight profile.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective study of a prospectively collected registry of patients with MASLD and compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) who underwent EGR. Patients were categorized as (1) monotherapy: EGR alone and (2) combination therapy: GLP-1RA prescribed within 6 months prior to or after EGR. Outcomes included changes in noninvasive tests of hepatic fibrosis, weight profile, and insulin resistance status at 12 months.

RESULTS

Thirty patients (body mass index 40.7 ± 9.3 kg/m2) were included. Of these, 12 patients (40%) underwent EGR monotherapy, and 18 patients (60%) underwent EGR + GLP-1RA combination therapy. Combination therapy group experienced greater improvements in fibrosis compared to monotherapy group (alanine aminotransferase: reduction by 55 ± 23% vs 29 ± 22% (p = 0.008), NAFLD fibrosis score: reduction by 181 ± 182% vs 30 ± 83% (p = 0.04), liver stiffness measurement on transient elastography: reduction by 54 ± 12% vs 14 ± 45% (p = 0.05)). There were greater reductions in hemoglobin A1c and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance in combination therapy compared to monotherapy (p < 0.05). At 12 months, the combination therapy group experienced 18.2 ± 6.6% TWL, while monotherapy group experienced 9.6 ± 3.3% TWL (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with MASLD and cACLD, combination of EGR with GLP-1RA is associated with greater improvements in hepatic fibrosis, weight profile, and insulin resistance compared to EGR alone.

Translating the potential of the urine steroid metabolome to stage NAFLD (TrUSt-NAFLD): study protocol for a multicentre, prospective validation study

INTRODUCTION

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects approximately one in four individuals and its prevalence continues to rise. The advanced stages of NAFLD with significant liver fibrosis are associated with adverse morbidity and mortality outcomes. Currently, liver biopsy remains the 'gold-standard' approach to stage NAFLD severity. Although generally well tolerated, liver biopsies are associated with significant complications, are resource intensive, costly, and sample only a very small area of the liver as well as requiring day case admission to a secondary care setting. As a result, there is a significant unmet need to develop non-invasive biomarkers that can accurately stage NAFLD and limit the need for liver biopsy. The aim of this study is to validate the use of the urine steroid metabolome as a strategy to stage NAFLD severity and to compare its performance against other non-invasive NAFLD biomarkers.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The TrUSt-NAFLD study is a multicentre prospective test validation study aiming to recruit 310 patients with biopsy-proven and staged NAFLD across eight centres within the UK. 150 appropriately matched control patients without liver disease will be recruited through the Oxford Biobank. Blood and urine samples, alongside clinical data, will be collected from all participants. Urine samples will be analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy to quantify a panel of predefined steroid metabolites. A machine learning-based classifier, for example, Generalized Matrix Relevance Learning Vector Quantization that was trained on retrospective samples, will be applied to the prospective steroid metabolite data to determine its ability to identify those patients with advanced, as opposed to mild-moderate, liver fibrosis as a consequence of NAFLD.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Research ethical approval was granted by West Midlands, Black Country Research Ethics Committee (REC reference: 21/WM/0177). A substantial amendment (TrUSt-NAFLD-SA1) was approved on 26 November 2021.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN19370855.

Prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in a middle-aged population with overweight and normal liver enzymes, and diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive proxies

The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasing at an alarming rate. Elevated liver enzymes are a primary reason to refer patients for further testing. However, liver enzymes within the normal range do not exclude the presence of MASLD. We examined the prevalence of MASLD in a middle-aged population with overweight and normal liver enzymes. In addition, we examined the accuracy of 4 sets of noninvasive proxies for MASLD. We included 1017 participants from the Netherlands epidemiology of obesity cohort study with body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 and liver enzymes (asparate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase) within normal range. The diagnostic accuracy of biomarker scores (fatty liver index, liver fat score [LFS], STEATO-ELSA, and hepatic steatosis index) was determined against elevated hepatic triglyceride content measured by 1proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Participants (mean age 56 years, 49% women), had a median body mass index of 29.6 kg/m2 and a median hepatic triglyceride content of 4.4%. MASLD was present in 42% of participants and was more common in men than women, with respectively 47% and 36% being affected. The LFS showed the highest accuracy with an area under the curve of 0.72. We identified metabolic syndrome as the prime predictor for MASLD with an odds ratio of 2.95 (95% confidence interval 2.20-3.98). The prevalence of MASLD in middle-aged men and women with overweight and liver enzymes within the normal range is over 40%. LFS showed the highest accuracy to detect MASLD, but, overall, biomarker scores performed relatively poor. The presence of metabolic syndrome was the prime predictor of MASLD.

Serum α-SMA is a potential noninvasive biomarker of liver fibrosis

The severity of fibrosis is central to the therapeutic course for patients with chronic liver disease; therefore, early detection of liver fibrosis is critical for timely therapeutic interventions. Liver biopsy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis; however, it is contraindicated in several pathological conditions. Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the main cells for fibrotic tissue synthesis, such as that of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). This study aimed to determine whether serum α-SMA levels are a suitable noninvasive, sensitive, and reliable liver fibrosis marker. Fibrosis was induced in male Wistar rats via chronic CCl4 administration. Fibrosis was determined in the liver tissues by quantifying the hydroxyproline content and visualized using Masson's trichrome staining. Rats chronically administered CCl4 exhibited a progressive increment in the hepatic collagen content, as well as both hepatic and serum α-SMA levels in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, serum levels of α-SMA significantly correlated with hepatic α-SMA levels (p ≤ 0.001), as well as with the severity of liver fibrosis (p ≤ 0.001). These findings suggest that increased levels of serum α-SMA can be considered a potential reliable and noninvasive biomarker for early liver fibrosis.

Routine blood test markers for predicting liver disease post HBV infection: precision pathology and pattern recognition

BACKGROUND

Early stages of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection usually involve inflammation of the liver. Patients with chronic infection have an increased risk of progressive liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and life-threatening clinical complications of end-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

CONTENT

Early diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis and timely clinical management are critical to controlling disease progression and decreasing the burden of end-stage liver cancer. Fibrosis staging, through its current gold standard, liver biopsy, improves patient outcomes, but the clinical procedure is invasive with unpleasant post-procedural complications. Routine blood test markers offer promising diagnostic potential for early detection of liver disease without biopsy. There is a plethora of candidate routine blood test markers that have gone through phases of biomarker validation and have shown great promise, but their current limitations include a predictive ability that is limited to only a few stages of fibrosis. However, the advent of machine learning, notably pattern recognition, presents an opportunity to refine blood-based non-invasive models of hepatic fibrosis in the future.

SUMMARY

In this review, we highlight the current landscape of routine blood-based non-invasive models of hepatic fibrosis, and appraise the potential application of machine learning (pattern recognition) algorithms to refining these models and optimising clinical predictions of HBV-associated liver disease.

OUTLOOK

Machine learning via pattern recognition algorithms takes data analytics to a new realm, and offers the opportunity for enhanced multi-marker fibrosis stage prediction using pathology profile that leverages information across patient routine blood tests.

The Role of the Multiparametric MRI LiverMultiScanTM in the Quantitative Assessment of the Liver and Its Predicted Clinical Applications in Patients Undergoing Major Hepatic Resection for Colorectal Liver Metastasis

Liver biopsy remains the gold standard for the histological assessment of the liver. With clear disadvantages and the rise in the incidences of liver disease, the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) and an explosion of surgical management options available, non-invasive serological and imaging markers of liver histopathology have never been more pertinent in order to assess liver health and stratify patients considered for surgical intervention. Liver MRI is a leading modality in the assessment of hepatic malignancy. Recent technological advancements in multiparametric MRI software such as the LiverMultiScanTM offers an attractive non-invasive assay of anatomy and histopathology in the pre-operative setting, especially in the context of CRLM. This narrative review examines the evidence for the LiverMultiScanTM in the assessment of hepatic fibrosis, steatosis/steatohepatitis, and potential applications for chemotherapy-associated hepatic changes. We postulate its future role and the hurdles it must surpass in order to be implemented in the pre-operative management of patients undergoing hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastasis. Such a role likely extends to other hepatic malignancies planned for resection.

Changing Trends in Liver Biopsy Practices: A Single-Center Analysis

Introduction To assess the trends for liver biopsy (LB) indications, technique, and histopathologic diagnosis, we retrospectively evaluated liver biopsies in two one-year periods, separated by a decade. Methods A pathology database query was performed for all parenchymal LB in patients over 18 years (11/2017 to 10/2018) and compared to those performed over a one-year period, a decade ago. We identified 427 parenchymal liver biopsies in the recent group and 166 in the decade-old group. Results Elevated liver enzymes are the most common indication for LB. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common diagnosis compared to 10 years ago, when it was viral hepatitis. Routes of LB were significantly different between the two groups, endoscopic ultrasound-guided liver biopsy (EUS-LB) (80.3% vs 0; p<0.0001), computed tomography-guided (0 vs 42.8%, p<0.0001), percutaneous by gastroenterologists (0% vs 29.5%, p<0.0001), and transjugular-LB (15.1% vs 17.6%, p<0.0001). The adequacy of the tissue for pathological diagnosis was similar, and there was no difference in adverse events. Conclusion At our institution, practice patterns have changed significantly for liver biopsy. There has been an increase in liver biopsy volume, and EUS guidance has become the most common approach for liver biopsy.

Regression of Hepatic Fibrosis After Endoscopic Gastric Plication in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

INTRODUCTION

Fibrosis stage is the strongest predictor of mortality in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). There is currently no approved therapy that specifically targets fibrosis. This study aims to assess the effect of endoscopic gastric plication on hepatic fibrosis in patients with underlying NAFLD.

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected registry of patients with obesity and NAFLD with clinically significant hepatic fibrosis (≥F2) who underwent endoscopic gastric plication. Full-thickness plications were placed in the gastric body using a commercially available platform to reduce the gastric volume. The primary outcome included various noninvasive tests (NITs) of hepatic fibrosis based on clinical chemistry and/or imaging. The secondary outcomes included NITs of hepatic steatosis, other metabolic outcomes, including hemoglobin A1c, insulin resistance, and total weight loss (TWL), and adverse events.

RESULTS

Forty-five patients (age 51 ± 13 years and body mass index 40.7 ± 6.9 kg/m 2 ) were included. All patients underwent endoscopic gastric plication successfully. At 6-12 months, there were significant reductions in biochemistries (alanine aminotransferase: 49.7 ± 36.8 U/L to 24.2 ± 12.0 U/L [ P < 0.0001], aspartate aminotransferase: 39.1 ± 24.1 U/L to 24.1 ± 10.0 U/L [ P < 0.0001]), composite fibrosis score (NAFLD fibrosis score: 0.48 ± 1.51 to -1.18 ± 1.56 [ P < 0.0001], fibrosis-4 index: 1.4 ± 1.2 to 1.2 ± 0.7 [ P = 0.03]), and imaging-based markers of fibrosis (vibration-controlled transient elastography: 13.9 ± 7.5 kPa to 8.9 ± 4.8 kPa ( P < 0.0001) and Agile 3+: 0.53 ± 0.28 to 0.37 ± 0.28 [ P = 0.001]). There were significant reductions in controlled attenuation parameter, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance, and hemoglobin A1c ( P < 0.05 for all). At 12 months, patients experienced 15.5% ± 7.9% TWL, with 63% reaching at least 10% TWL.

DISCUSSION

Endoscopic gastric plication seems effective at treating NAFLD, with significant reduction in NITs of hepatic fibrosis even in patients with cirrhosis.

An activatable near-infrared molecular reporter for fluoro-photoacoustic imaging of liver fibrosis

Noninvasive and accurate detection of liver fibrosis is extremely significant for well-timed intervention and treatment to prevent or reverse its progression. Fluorescence imaging probes hold great potential for imaging of liver fibrosis, but they always encounter the inherent limitation of shallow penetration depth, which compromises their ability of in vivo detection. To overcome this issue, an activatable fluoro-photoacoustic bimodal imaging probe (IP) is herein developed for specific visualization of liver fibrosis. The probe IP is constructed on a near-infrared thioxanthene-hemicyanine dye that is caged with gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) responsive substrate and linked with integrin-targeted peptide (cRGD). Such molecular design permits IP to effectively accumulate in the liver fibrosis region through specific recognition of cRGD towards integrin and activate its fluoro-photoacoustic signal after interaction with overexpressed GGT to precisely monitor the liver fibrosis. Thus, our study presents a potential strategy to design dual-target fluoro-photoacoustic imaging probes for noninvasive detection of early-stage liver fibrosis.

Multiparametric MR assessment of liver fat, iron, and fibrosis: a concise overview of the liver "Triple Screen"

Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a common source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) serves as a major cause of CLD with a rising annual prevalence. Additionally, iron overload can be both a cause and effect of CLD with a negative synergistic effect when combined with NAFLD. The development of state-of-the-art multiparametric MR solutions has led to a change in the diagnostic paradigm in CLD, shifting from traditional liver biopsy to innovative non-invasive methods for providing accurate and reliable detection and quantification of the disease burden. Novel imaging biomarkers such as MRI-PDFF for fat, R2 and R2* for iron, and liver stiffness for fibrosis provide important information for diagnosis, surveillance, risk stratification, and treatment. In this article, we provide a concise overview of the MR concepts and techniques involved in the detection and quantification of liver fat, iron, and fibrosis including their relative strengths and limitations and discuss a practical abbreviated MR protocol for clinical use that integrates these three MR biomarkers into a single simplified MR assessment. Multiparametric MR techniques provide accurate and reliable non-invasive detection and quantification of liver fat, iron, and fibrosis. These techniques can be combined in a single abbreviated MR "Triple Screen" assessment to offer a more complete metabolic imaging profile of CLD.

Assessing Liver Fibrosis Using 2D-SWE Liver Ultrasound Elastography and Dynamic Liver Scintigraphy with 99mTc-mebrofenin: A Comparative Prospective Single-Center Study

Background and Objectives: Many quantitative imaging modalities are available that quantify chronic liver disease, although only a few of them are included in clinical guidelines. Many more imaging options are still competing to find their place in the area of diagnosing chronic liver disease. We report our first prospective single-center study evaluating different imaging modalities that stratify viral hepatitis-associated liver fibrosis in a treatment-naïve patient group. Materials and Methods: The aim of our study is to compare and to combine already employed 2D shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) with dynamic liver scintigraphy with 99mTc-mebrofenin in chronic viral hepatitis patients for the staging of liver fibrosis. Results: Seventy-two patients were enrolled in the study. We found that both 2D-SWE ultrasound imaging, with dynamic liver scintigraphy with 99mTc-mebrofenin are able to stratify CLD patients into different liver fibrosis categories based on histological examination findings. We did not find any statistically significant difference between these imaging options, which means that dynamic liver scintigraphy with 99mTc-mebrofenin is not an inferior imaging technique. A combination of these imaging modalities showed increased accuracy in the non-invasive staging of liver cirrhosis. Conclusions: Our study presents that 2D-SWE and dynamic liver scintigraphy with 99mTc-mebrofenin could be used for staging liver fibrosis, both in singular application and in a combined way, adding a potential supplementary value that represents different aspects of liver fibrosis in CLD.

Combining 99mTc-GSA single-photon emission-computed tomography and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for staging liver fibrosis

Preoperative assessment of the degree of liver fibrosis is important to determine treatment strategies. In this study, galactosyl human serum albumin single-photon emission-computed tomography and ethoxybenzyl (EOB) contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to assess the changes in hepatocyte function after liver fibrosis, and the standardized uptake value (SUV) was combined with gadolinium EOB-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid to evaluate its added value for liver fibrosis staging. A total of 484 patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent liver resection between January 2010 and August 2018 were included. Resected liver specimens were classified based on pathological findings into nonfibrotic and fibrotic groups (stratified according to the Ludwig scale). Galactosyl human serum albumin-single-photon emission-computed tomography and EOB contrast-enhanced MRI examinations were performed, and the mean SUVs (SUVmean) and contrast enhancement indices (CEIs) were obtained. The diagnostic value of the acquired SUV and CEIs for fibrosis was assessed by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, SUV + CEI showed the highest AUC in both fibrosis groups. In particular, in the comparison between fibrosis groups, SUV + CEI showed significantly higher AUCs than SUV and CEI alone in discriminating between fibrosis (F3 and 4) and no or mild fibrosis (F0 and 2) (AUC: 0.879, vs SUV [P = 0.008], vs. CEI [P = 0.023]), suggesting that the combination of SUV + CEI has greater diagnostic performance than the individual indices. Combining the SUV and CEI provides high accuracy for grading liver fibrosis, especially in differentiating between grades F0 and 2 and F3-4. SUV and gadolinium EOB-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-enhanced MRI can be noninvasive diagnostic methods to guide the selection of clinical treatment options for patients with liver diseases.

Comparative Transcriptional Signature Analysis of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Early Stage of Hepatitis B-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent and life-threatening tumor with high morbidity and mortality. Proper prediction and prognosis are incredibly stressed to diagnose HCC and increase patient survival. Objectives: This research aims to evaluate gene expression levels of pre-differentiated transcripts for those suffering from chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and HCC. Methods: To examine the previously analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) transcriptomic array data, we selected seven differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in normal versus CHB and CHB versus HCC (CD44, SP3, USP8, E2F2, UFM1, IFN regulative factor binding protein 2 (IRF2BP2), and T-cell intracellular antigen 1 (TIA1)). The study included individuals with treatment-naïve CHB (n = 30) and primary HCC (n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 15). Subsequently, the expression of genes was assayed using qRT-PCR. A phylogenetic evaluation was performed using direct sequencing of HBsAg. Results: In HCC patients, 60% (n = 15) were HBeAg-positive. HBeAg was negative in all CHB patients, but all were anti-HBe-positive. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) load of HCC patients was more than that of CHB subjects. All patients were of the Iranian race and HBV D genotype. The expression of five transcriptional markers (CD44, SP3, USP8, E2F2, and UFM1) was higher in HCC patients than in CHB and healthy subjects, which was similar to the initial microarray data analysis. Conclusions: Transcriptional signatures may be related to the pathogenesis of HCC and used as diagnostic biological markers for the initial monitoring and prediction of HCC.

Quantitative Assessment of Liver Impairment in Chronic Viral Hepatitis with [99mTc]Tc-Mebrofenin: A Noninvasive Attempt to Stage Viral Hepatitis-Associated Liver Fibrosis

Background and objectives—Chronic viral hepatitis B and C infections are one of the leading causes of chronic liver impairment, resulting in liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis. An early diagnosis with accurate liver fibrosis staging leads to a proper diagnosis, thus tailoring correct treatment. Both invasive and noninvasive techniques are used in the diagnosis and staging of chronic liver impairment. Those techniques include liver biopsy, multiple serological markers (as either single tests or combined panels), and imaging examinations, such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance elastography. Nuclear medicine probes may also be employed in staging liver fibrosis, although the literature scarcely reports this. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether a dynamic liver scintigraphy with [^99mTc]Tc-mebrofenin has any value in staging or grading chronic liver damage. Materials and Methods—We prospectively enrolled patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C infection referred for liver biopsy. All patient underwent dynamic liver scintigraphy with 99mTc-mebrofenin prior to liver biopsy. Dynamic liver scintigraphy was performed immediately after intravenous tracer injection for 30 min scanning time. Multiple scintigraphy parameters were calculated (whole liver lobe and focal area time to peak (TTP), 30 min to peak ratio (30/peak), whole lobe and focal area slope index in 350 s (slope_350). Liver biopsy took place shortly after imaging. Results—We found that many dynamic scintigraphic parameters are positively or negatively associated with different stages of liver fibrosis. The main parameters that showed most value are the ratio between 30 min and the peak of the dynamic curve (30/peak_dex (ratio)), and liver clearance corrected for body surface area and liver area (LCL_m²_dm² (%/min/m²/dm²)). Conclusions—Our present study proves that conducting dynamic liver scintigraphies with [^99mTc]Tc-mebrofenin has potential value in staging liver fibrosis. The benefits of this method, including whole liver imaging and direct imaging of the liver function, provide an advantage over presently used quantitative imaging modalities.

Recent Advancements in Antifibrotic Therapies for Regression of Liver Fibrosis

Cirrhosis is a severe form of liver fibrosis that results in the irreversible replacement of liver tissue with scar tissue in the liver. Environmental toxicity, infections, metabolic causes, or other genetic factors including autoimmune hepatitis can lead to chronic liver injury and can result in inflammation and fibrosis. This activates myofibroblasts to secrete ECM proteins, resulting in the formation of fibrous scars on the liver. Fibrosis regression is possible through the removal of pathophysiological causes as well as the elimination of activated myofibroblasts, resulting in the reabsorption of the scar tissue. To date, a wide range of antifibrotic therapies has been tried and tested, with varying degrees of success. These therapies include the use of growth factors, cytokines, miRNAs, monoclonal antibodies, stem-cell-based approaches, and other approaches that target the ECM. The positive results of preclinical and clinical studies raise the prospect of a viable alternative to liver transplantation in the near future. The present review provides a synopsis of recent antifibrotic treatment modalities for the treatment of liver cirrhosis, as well as a brief summary of clinical trials that have been conducted to date.

Non-invasive evaluation of response to obeticholic acid in patients with NASH: Results from the REGENERATE study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic, progressive fibrotic liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis. While liver biopsy is considered the reference standard for the histologic diagnosis of NASH and staging of fibrosis, its use in clinical practice is limited. Non-invasive tests (NITs) are increasingly being used to identify and stage liver fibrosis in patients with NASH, and several can assess liver-related outcomes. We report changes in various NITs in patients treated with obeticholic acid (OCA) or placebo in the phase III REGENERATE study.

METHODS

Patients with NASH and fibrosis stage F2 or F3 (n = 931) were randomized (1:1:1) to receive placebo, OCA 10 mg, or OCA 25 mg once daily. Various NITs based on clinical chemistry and/or imaging were evaluated at baseline and throughout the study.

RESULTS

Rapid, sustained reductions from baseline in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyltransferase levels, as well as in Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), FibroTest, FibroMeter, and FibroScan-AST scores were observed in OCA-treated vs. placebo-treated patients. Reduction in liver stiffness by vibration-controlled transient elastography was observed in the OCA 25 mg group vs. the placebo group at Month 18. NIT changes were associated with shifts in histologic fibrosis stage. The greatest improvements were observed in patients with ≥1-stage fibrosis improvement; however, improvements in ALT, AST, FIB-4, and FibroTest were also observed in OCA-treated patients whose histologic fibrosis remained stable.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the REGENERATE Month 18 interim analysis, rapid and sustained improvements in various NITs were observed with OCA treatment. Dynamic changes in selected NITs separated histologic responders from non-responders. These results suggest that NITs may be useful in assessing histologic response to OCA therapy. CLINICALTRIALS.

GOV NUMBER

NCT02548351 LAY SUMMARY: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic, progressive liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis. To diagnose and assess liver fibrosis (scarring) in patients with NASH, non-invasive tests (NITs) are increasingly being used rather than liver biopsy, which is invasive, expensive, and can be risky. In the REGENERATE study, which is evaluating the effects of obeticholic acid vs. placebo in patients with NASH, various NITs were also evaluated. This analysis shows that improvements in levels of certain blood components, as well as favorable results of ultrasound imaging and proprietary tests of liver function, were associated with improvements in liver fibrosis after treatment with obeticholic acid, suggesting that NITs may be useful alternatives to liver biopsy in assessing NASH patients' response to therapy.

Influence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease on the Occurrence and Severity of Chronic Kidney Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is reported to affect 20-30% of adults and is accompanied by various metabolic comorbidities, where the economic and clinical burden of NAFLD is attributed to the progression of liver disease as well as the presence of extrahepatic diseases. Chronic kidney disease (CKD), which has a high incidence rate, high morbidity and mortality rates, and high medical costs, has been linked to NAFLD. CKD is associated with some metabolism-related risk factors that overlap with metabolic comorbidities of NAFLD. Therefore, to investigate the potential factors that influence CKD occurrence, the association between NAFLD and CKD should be clarified. Some studies have confirmed that NAFLD influences the occurrence and severity of CKD, whereas some studies have indicated that there is no correlation. In this review, the results of a few studies have been discussed, the potential risk factors for CKD in NAFLD are explored, and the respective biological mechanisms are elaborated to help clinicians identify CKD in patients much earlier than it is diagnosed now and thus help in reducing the incidence of liver and kidney transplants.

Role of liver biopsy versus non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosis of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis: a web-based survey

Background

Liver biopsy is the standard reference for staging hepatic fibrosis. Non-invasive methods for assessment of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis are becoming increasingly popular.

Objective

We aimed at exploring the change in practice regarding the use of liver biopsy and non-invasive methods for staging hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis among hepatologists.

Methods

We performed a survey-based study that recruited hepatologists from various Egyptian institutions. Physicians were deemed eligible if they had a degree in internal medicine with hepatology as a subspecialty. We utilized an online-based survey that assessed the acceptability and reliability of liver biopsy, serum biomarkers, and radiological tools for evaluating liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Results

A total of 573 responses were retrieved (response rate = 80.3%). Out of them, 58% were having more than 15 years of experience as a hepatologist.

Liver biopsy is still considered the gold standard for assessment of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis by 61% of participants. Liver biopsy was accepted by 44% of their patients. 84% reported the need for a more practical alternative to liver biopsy to assess disease progression or response to treatment. 78.34% of participants know serum biomarkers, 84.08% reported that they were acceptable by their patients, 37.79% thought they are reliable. 95.4% were familiar with radiological methods of non-invasive assessment of hepatic fibrosis, 89.1% reported that radiological methods were acceptable by their patients, 62% think that they are reliable and 78% reported they were applicable in clinical practice. Sixty-five percent think that combining non-invasive methods is better than using a single method. Forty percent of participants thought that radiological methods are easier to use for assessment of hepatic fibrosis followed by a combination of non-invasive methods, serum biomarkers, and liver biopsy respectively.

Conclusion

In conclusion, liver biopsy is still considered the most reliable method for evaluation and staging of liver cirrhosis by hepatologists in Egyptian institutions, despite the modest acceptance by the patients. Nonetheless, non-invasive methods are gaining acceptance by Egyptian physicians and patients, and most of them consider these methods as reliable and applicable tools for predicting the course of liver cirrhosis.

An ultrasound image-based deep multi-scale texture network for liver fibrosis grading in patients with chronic HBV infection

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The evaluation of the stage of liver fibrosis is essential in patients with chronic liver disease. However, due to the low quality of ultrasound images, the non-invasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis based on ultrasound images is still an outstanding question. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of a deep learning-based method in ultrasound images for liver fibrosis staging in multicentre patients.

METHODS

In this study, we proposed a novel deep learning-based approach, named multi-scale texture network (MSTNet), to assess liver fibrosis, which extracted multi-scale texture features from constructed image pyramid patches. Its diagnostic accuracy was investigated by comparing it with APRI, FIB-4, Forns and sonographers. Data of 508 patients who underwent liver biopsy were included from 4 hospitals. The area-under-the ROC curve (AUC) was determined by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves for significant fibrosis (≥F2) and cirrhosis (F4).

RESULTS

The AUCs (95% confidence interval) of MSTNet were 0.92 (0.87-0.96) for ≥F2 and 0.89 (0.83-0.95) for F4 on the validation group, which significantly outperformed APRI, FIB-4 and Forns. The sensitivity and specificity of MSTNet (85.1% (74.5%-92.0%) and 87.6% (78.0%-93.6%)) were better than those of three sonographers in assessing ≥F2.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed MSTNet is a promising ultrasound image-based method for the non-invasive grading of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic HBV infection.

Hyaluronic acid as a potential marker for assessment of fibrosis regression after direct acting antiviral drugs in chronic hepatitis C patients

INTRODUCTION

Fibrosis is an inevitable complication of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Direct acting antivirals (DAAs) radically treated HCV and were suggested to ameliorate fibrosis. Silymarin (a natural herbal remedy) was proposed to further decrease hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Consequently, serial monitoring of liver fibrosis status by different biomarkers is needed.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To assess hyaluronic acid (HA) as a potential marker of fibrosis regression after DAAs in chronic HCV patients; in addition, to evaluate silymarin as an agent that, beside DAAs, could further improve fibrosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Two groups were included (150 patients each). Group 1 received DAAs only, while group 2 received DAAs followed by silymarin. Hyaluronic acid and FIB4 score were assessed at baseline before treatment and 1 year after inclusion in the study.

RESULTS

We found that DAA therapy alone or in combination with silymarin resulted in a significant reduction in serum HA level. However, the latter case showed a statistically significantly greater reduction (p = 0.034). Mean ±SD of serum HA level was 211.8 ±179.9 and 143.3 ±123.9 µg/l before and one year after inclusion respectively in group 1 (p = 0.001) and also, its level decreased significantly in group 2 from 188.3 ±211.8 µg/l before receiving DAAs to 126.4 ±136.9 µg/l at one year after inclusion (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between the 2 studied groups as regards FIB-4 at 1 year after inclusion (p = 0.103).

CONCLUSIONS

Hyaluronic acid might be a sensitive marker for monitoring fibrosis regression in treated chronic HCV patients. Adding silymarin to treatment protocols could ameliorate the fibrosis status.

Serum Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein and Golgi Protein-73: New Diagnostic and Predictive Tools for Liver Fibrosis and Hepatocellular Cancer?

Simple Summary

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks as the sixth most common malignancy and represents the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. However, most HCC cases are insidious in the early stages leading to a delay in diagnosis with limited treatment options. In patients with chronic liver diseases, advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis are the leading risk factors for the development of HCC. Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and Golgi protein-73 (GP73) are two biomarkers that have been associated with the progression of chronic liver disease, including inflammation, fibrosis, and HCC. The aim of our study was to assess the performance of the combination of these biomarkers. We confirmed, in a large cohort of 288 patients with chronic liver diseases, that the combination of GP73 and COMP had a high discriminative ability to detect severe fibrosis/cirrhosis and is efficient in predicting the development of HCC.

Abstract

The cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and Golgi-protein-73 (GP73) have been proposed as markers of liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our aim was to assess the performance of the combination of these markers in diagnosing cirrhosis and predicting HCC development. Sera from 288 consecutive patients with chronic liver diseases were investigated by using COMP and GP73-ELISAs. Dual positivity for COMP (>15 U/L) and GP73 (>20 units) was observed in 24 (8.3%) patients, while 30 (10.4%) were GP73(+)/COMP(−), 37/288 (12.8%) GP73(−)/COMP(+), and 197 (68.5%) GP73(−)/COMP(−). Positivity for both markers was associated with cirrhosis [23/24 (95.8%) for GP73(+)/COMP(+) vs. 22/30 (73.3%) for GP73(+)/COMP(−) vs. 25/37 (67.6%) for GP73(−)/COMP(+) vs. 46/197 (23.4%) for GP73(−)/COMP(−); P < 0.001]. The combination of GP73, COMP, the aspartate aminotransferase/platelets ratio index, and the Fibrosis-4 score had even higher diagnostic accuracy to detect the presence of cirrhosis [AUC (95% CI): 0.916 (0.878–0.946)] or significant liver fibrosis (METAVIR ≥ F2) [AUC (95% CI): 0.832 (0.768–0.883)] than each marker alone. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that positivity for both GP73 and COMP was associated with higher rates of HCC development (P < 0.001) and liver-related deaths (P < 0.001) during follow-up. In conclusion, the combination of GP73 and COMP seems efficient to detect cirrhosis and predict worse outcomes and the development of HCC in patients with chronic liver diseases.

Assessment of liver disease by non-invasive methods in perinatally infected Brazilian adolescents and young adults living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

INTRODUCTION

Effective and long-term combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) has decreased morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected individuals. Despite treatment advances, HIV-infected children continue to develop noninfectious conditions, including liver fibrosis.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study designed to identify liver fibrosis in HIV-infected adolescents and young adults, in an outpatients clinic of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Division at Escola Paulista de Medicina/Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), diagnosed by noninvasive methods (liver elastography-FibroScan®, APRI and FIB4). Variables examined included demographics, clinical, laboratories, HIV treatment. All participants underwent FibroScan® to measure liver parenchyma elasticity. Values equal to above 7.0 kPa were interpreted as the presence of significant liver fibrosis. Two different biomarkers of liver fibrosis were employed: the AST-to-Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) and the Fibrosis-4 score (FIB-4). APRI values above 1.5 have been considered as levels of clinically significant liver fibrosis and FIB-4 values above 3.25 suggested the presence of advanced fibrosis.

RESULTS

Between August 2014 and March 2017, the study enrolled 97 patients, age 10-27 years old, fourteen of 97 subjects (14.4%) presented liver stiffness (≥7 kPa) detected by the liver elastography. No patient had APRI> 1.5. No patient had FIB4 value > 3.25. The only isolated laboratory parameter that could be significantly associated with high liver stiffness was thrombocytopenia (p = 0.022, Fisher's exact test).

CONCLUSION

Liver stiffness was identified in 14.4% (14/97) of this cohort by liver elastography. Liver disease in HIV-infected adolescents and young adults manifests itself silently, so should be routinely investigated.

Comparison of MR-PWI quantitative and semi-quantitative parameters for the evaluation of liver fibrosis

Background

To evaluate different stages of liver fibrosis in cynomolgus monkeys by comparing magnetic resonance-perfusion weighted imaging (MR-PWI) quantitative and semi-quantitative parameters, and confirm the best detection indicators for diagnosis of liver fibrosis.

Methods

A liver fibrosis model of different stages (S0–S4) was established in cynomolgus monkeys. The changes in MR-PWI quantitative and semi-quantitative parameters with the progression of liver fibrosis were investigated.

Results

MR-PWI quantitative parameters gradually decreased with the progression of liver fibrosis. Hepatic arterial perfusion index (HPI) was found to increase with the progression of liver fibrosis and significant differences of HPI between each group were observed. There was a highly positive correlation between HPI and the stages of liver fibrosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that HPI had the highest efficacy of the MR-PWI quantitative parameters for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis. The MR-PW semi-quantitative parameters gradually reduced with the progression of liver fibrosis, and the differences were statistically significant between stages S3–S4 and S0–S2. Time to peak (TPP) gradually extended and showed a positive correlation with the stages of liver fibrosis. TTP had the highest efficacy of the semi-quantitative parameters for diagnosis of liver fibrosis.

Conclusions

Both the MR-PWI quantitative and semi-quantitative parameters of the liver fibrosis model in cynomolgus monkeys varied at different stages of liver fibrosis, and HPI and TTP were the best detection indices for quantitative and semi-quantitative evaluation of liver fibrosis, respectively.

Noninvasive Staging of Liver Fibrosis Using 5-Minute Delayed Dual-Energy CT: Comparison with US Elastography and Correlation with Histologic Findings

Background Normalized iodine concentration (NIC) (ratio of iodine concentration of liver to that of aorta) of liver at delayed dual-energy CT (DECT) may reflect the amount of fibrosis based on the extent of iodine uptake. Purpose To stage liver fibrosis by using 5-minute delayed DECT and compare findings with those of transient elastography (TE), shear-wave elastography (SWE), and histologic examination. Materials and Methods This prospective study included patients with chronic liver disease who were scheduled to undergo multiphase abdominal CT and liver biopsy from January 2017 to September 2018. Fifty individuals being screened as renal donors comprised the control group. Study participants underwent TE, SWE, multiphasic DECT (including 5-minute delayed dual-energy scanning), and liver biopsy. Multiphasic DECT and SWE were performed in the control group. The NIC of the right lobe of the liver (RNIC) was compared with liver stiffness (LS) as measured with TE and SWE and with the METAVIR fibrosis stage (ranging from F0 to F4). Diagnostic performance was assessed by using areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs). Results A total of 107 participants (mean age, 35 years ± 12 [standard deviation]; 57 men) and 50 control subjects (mean age, 47 years ± 11; 29 women) were evaluated. The RNIC showed strong correlation with METAVIR stage (Spearman ρ = 0.81, P < .001). The AUC for RNIC with each METAVIR stage ranged between 0.86 (95% CI: 0.76, 0.97) and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.92, 0.99). The cut-off value of RNIC was 0.24 (sensitivity: 85% [86 of 101 participants; 95% CI: 77%, 91%]; specificity: 83% [84 of 101 participants; 95% CI: 42%, 98%]) for stage F1 fibrosis and 0.29 (sensitivity: 84% [67 of 80 participants; 95% CI: 74%, 90%]; specificity: 81% [65 of 80 participants; 95% CI: 63%, 92%]) for stage F2 fibrosis. RNIC correlated well with LS as measured with TE and SWE (Spearman ρ = 0.60 and 0.64, respectively; P < .001). Conclusion Normalized iodine concentration of liver at 5-minute delayed dual-energy CT showed strong correlation with the histologic stages of liver fibrosis and good diagnostic performance in estimating liver fibrosis. © RSNA, 2020 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Chandarana and Shanbhogue in this issue.

Multiparametric MR mapping in clinical decision-making for diffuse liver disease

Accurate diagnosis, monitoring and treatment decisions in patients with chronic liver disease currently rely on biopsy as the diagnostic gold standard, and this has constrained early detection and management of diseases that are both varied and can be concurrent. Recent developments in multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) suggest real potential to bridge the diagnostic gap between non-specific blood-based biomarkers and invasive and variable histological diagnosis. This has implications for the clinical care and treatment pathway in a number of chronic liver diseases, such as haemochromatosis, steatohepatitis and autoimmune or viral hepatitis. Here we review the relevant MRI techniques in clinical use and their limitations and describe recent potential applications in various liver diseases. We exemplify case studies that highlight how these techniques can improve clinical practice. These techniques could allow clinicians to increase their arsenals available to utilise on patients and direct appropriate treatments.

Role of Fibroscan for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in hepatitis C cirrhotic patients

Background

Liver cancer (HCC) ranks as the fifth most prevalent cancer worldwide and is ranked third as a common cause of death due to cancer. The benefit of Fibroscan in assessing the risk of developing liver cancer that was evaluated in this work was not fully demonstrated. The aim of this work was to study the role and clinical significance of Fibroscan for early detection of liver cancer in hepatitis C patients with cirrhosis.

Results

As regards binary logistic regression for predictors of HCC, it was found that Child C, AST, Fibroscan, and AFP were predictors for developing HCC. Liver stiffness values were significantly high in all groups, and the specific cutoff value for hepatocellular carcinoma detection was above 24 kPa in hepatitis C virus patients. Therefore, liver stiffness of more than 24 kPa can be considered as an independent risk factor for the development of liver cancer in HCV patients.

Conclusion

Liver stiffness of more than 24 kPa was an independent risk factor for developing new liver cancer in HCV patients.

Elucidating Potential Profibrotic Mechanisms of Emerging Biomarkers for Early Prognosis of Hepatic Fibrosis

Hepatic fibrosis has been associated with a series of pathophysiological processes causing excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins. Several cellular processes and molecular mechanisms have been implicated in the diseased liver that augments fibrogenesis, fibrogenic cytokines and associated liver complications. Liver biopsy remains an essential diagnostic tool for histological evaluation of hepatic fibrosis to establish a prognosis. In addition to being invasive, this methodology presents with several limitations including poor cost-effectiveness, prolonged hospitalizations, and risks of peritoneal bleeding, while the clinical use of this method does not reveal underlying pathogenic mechanisms. Several alternate noninvasive diagnostic strategies have been developed, to determine the extent of hepatic fibrosis, including the use of direct and indirect biomarkers. Immediate diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis by noninvasive means would be more palatable than a biopsy and could assist clinicians in taking early interventions timely, avoiding fatal complications, and improving prognosis. Therefore, we sought to review some common biomarkers of liver fibrosis along with some emerging candidates, including the oxidative stress-mediated biomarkers, epigenetic and genetic markers, exosomes, and miRNAs that needs further evaluation and would have better sensitivity and specificity. We also aim to elucidate the potential role of cardiotonic steroids (CTS) and evaluate the pro-inflammatory and profibrotic effects of CTS in exacerbating hepatic fibrosis. By understanding the underlying pathogenic processes, the efficacy of these biomarkers could allow for early diagnosis and treatment of hepatic fibrosis in chronic liver diseases, once validated.

Serum Marker Panels for Predicting Liver Fibrosis - An Update

Fibrosis prediction is an essential part of the assessment and management of patients with chronic liver disease. Traditionally the gold standard for assessment of fibrosis is liver biopsy, but it suffers from various limitations including risk of patient injury and sampling error. As a result, noninvasive tests of hepatic fibrosis have been used in patients with chronic liver disease due to conditions such as hepatitis B and C, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. With the advent of new direct-acting antivirals, hepatic fibrosis staging is an important component of treatment decisions in the care of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Current limitations of the noninvasive biomarker models include a significant indeterminate range, and a predictive ability that is limited to only a few stages of fibrosis. However newer technologies and novel proteins identified by proteomics and genomics offer the possibility for further refinement and individualisation of biomarker fibrosis models in the future.

Vibration-controlled transient elastography for the detection of cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis D infection

Noninvasive detection of cirrhosis via vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) has revolutionized the management of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, VCTE has not been studied in chronic hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection and accuracy remains in question due to the significant hepatic inflammation associated with this infection. Consecutive HBV, HCV and HDV patients who underwent VCTE (2006-2019) were evaluated. Diagnosis of cirrhosis was made via liver biopsy or clinical findings. VCTE was compared with other noninvasive serum fibrosis tests using AUROC curves. The performance of VCTE in HBV/HCV/HDV was also compared. We evaluated 319 patients (HBV-112; HCV-132; HDV-75), 278(87%) patients had histology for evaluation. HDV patients had evidence of higher hepatic inflammation as evidence by aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and histology activity index. Cirrhotic HDV patients had higher mean liver stiffness measurements compared with noncirrhotic patients (29.0 vs 8.3 kPa, P < .0001). VCTE demonstrated excellent diagnostic accuracy for the detection of cirrhosis with an AUROC of 0.90 compared with APRI (0.83), FIB-4 (0.88), AAR (0.73) and RPR (0.85). Performance of VCTE in HDV was comparable with HBV (0.93) and HCV (0.94). At the optimized cut-off value of ≥14.0 kPa for determining cirrhosis in HDV, VCTE had a sensitivity of 0.78, specificity of 0.86, NPV of 0.93 and PPV of 0.64. Hence, VCTE is a useful noninvasive test in HDV for determining cirrhosis despite the presence of significant hepatic inflammation.

Validation and Refinement of Noninvasive Methods to Assess Hepatic Fibrosis: Magnetic Resonance Elastography Versus Enhanced Liver Fibrosis Index

BACKGROUND

Noninvasive fibrosis markers are routinely used in patients with liver disease. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is recognized as a highly accurate methodology, but a reliable blood test for fibrosis would be useful. We examined performance characteristics of the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) Index compared to MRE in a cohort including those with HCV, HIV, and HCV/HIV.

METHODS

Subjects enrolled in the Miami Adult Studies on HIV (MASH) cohort underwent MRE and blood sampling. The ELF Index was scored and receiver-operator curves constructed to determine optimal cutoff levels relative to performance characteristics. Cytokine testing was performed to identify new markers to enhance noninvasive marker development.

RESULTS

The ELF Index was determined in 459 subjects; more than half were male, non-white, and HIV-infected. MRE was obtained on a subset of 283 subjects and the group that had both studies served as the basis of the receiver-operator curve analysis. At an ELF Index of > 10.633, the area under the curve for cirrhosis (Metavir F4, MRE > 4.62 kPa) was 0.986 (95% CI 0.994-0.996; p < 0.001) with a specificity of 100%. For advanced fibrosis (Metavir F3/4), an ELF cutoff of 10 was associated with poor sensitivity but high specificity (98.9%, 95% CI 96.7-99.8%) with an AUC of 0.80 (95% CI 0.749-0.845). ELF Index performance characteristics exceeded FIB-4 performance. HCV and age were associated with increased fibrosis (p < 0.05) in a multivariable model. IP-10 was found to be a promising biomarker for improvement in noninvasive prediction algorithms.

CONCLUSIONS

The ELF Index was a highly sensitive and specific marker of cirrhosis, even among HIV-infected individuals, when compared with MRE. IP-10 may be a biomarker that can enhance performance characteristics further, but additional validation is required.

Novel Biomarkers of Hepatitis B and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Clinical Significance of HBcrAg and M2BPGi

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) cannot be removed completely from infected hepatocytes, owing to the presence of intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). As chronic hepatitis B (CHB) can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), predicting HCC development in high-risk patients with high viral replicative activity or advanced fibrosis is important. Novel serological biomarkers reflect intrahepatic viral replicative activity or the progression of liver fibrosis, indicating non-invasive alternatives to liver biopsy: (1) Hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) correlates with serum HBV DNA and intrahepatic cccDNA. In CHB patients, a decrease in HBcrAg is associated with favorable outcomes. HBcrAg can predict HCC occurrence or recurrence. (2) Measurement of the Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) has been introduced for the evaluation of liver fibrosis. An increase in M2BPGi in CHB patients is related to the progression of liver fibrosis and high potential (risk) of HCC development. Here, we describe the clinical applications of HBcrAg and M2BPGi in CHB patients. Additionally, because new potential therapeutic agents that eliminate intrahepatic cccDNA are being developed, monitoring of HBcrAg or M2BPGi might be suitable for evaluating therapeutic effects and the clinical outcomes. In conclusion, these would be appropriate surrogate markers for predicting disease progression.

Novel Biomarkers of Hepatitis B and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Clinical Significance of HBcrAg and M2BPGi

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) cannot be removed completely from infected hepatocytes, owing to the presence of intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). As chronic hepatitis B (CHB) can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), predicting HCC development in high-risk patients with high viral replicative activity or advanced fibrosis is important. Novel serological biomarkers reflect intrahepatic viral replicative activity or the progression of liver fibrosis, indicating non-invasive alternatives to liver biopsy: (1) Hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) correlates with serum HBV DNA and intrahepatic cccDNA. In CHB patients, a decrease in HBcrAg is associated with favorable outcomes. HBcrAg can predict HCC occurrence or recurrence. (2) Measurement of the Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) has been introduced for the evaluation of liver fibrosis. An increase in M2BPGi in CHB patients is related to the progression of liver fibrosis and high potential (risk) of HCC development. Here, we describe the clinical applications of HBcrAg and M2BPGi in CHB patients. Additionally, because new potential therapeutic agents that eliminate intrahepatic cccDNA are being developed, monitoring of HBcrAg or M2BPGi might be suitable for evaluating therapeutic effects and the clinical outcomes. In conclusion, these would be appropriate surrogate markers for predicting disease progression.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Adults: Current Concepts in Etiology, Outcomes, and Management

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a spectrum of disease, extending from simple steatosis to inflammation and fibrosis with a significant risk for the development of cirrhosis. It is highly prevalent and is associated with significant adverse outcomes both through liver-specific morbidity and mortality but, perhaps more important, through adverse cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes. It is closely associated with type 2 diabetes and obesity, and both of these conditions drive progressive disease toward the more advanced stages. The mechanisms that govern hepatic lipid accumulation and the predisposition to inflammation and fibrosis are still not fully understood but reflect a complex interplay between metabolic target tissues including adipose and skeletal muscle, and immune and inflammatory cells. The ability to make an accurate assessment of disease stage (that relates to clinical outcome) can also be challenging. While liver biopsy is still regarded as the gold-standard investigative tool, there is an extensive literature on the search for novel noninvasive biomarkers and imaging modalities that aim to accurately reflect the stage of underlying disease. Finally, although no therapies are currently licensed for the treatment of NAFLD, there are interventions that appear to have proven efficacy in randomized controlled trials as well as an extensive emerging therapeutic landscape of new agents that target many of the fundamental pathophysiological processes that drive NAFLD. It is highly likely that over the next few years, new treatments with a specific license for the treatment of NAFLD will become available.

Pirfenidone alleviates concanavalin A-induced liver fibrosis in mice

AIMS

Liver fibrosis (LF) is a life-threatening complication of most chronic liver diseases resulting from a variety of injurious agents and hepatotoxic insults. To date, there are no specific therapies for LF, and all the currently available drugs have been developed for other indications. Thus, there is a pressing need to develop new drugs for treatment of LF. Therefore, the current study aimed to elucidate the potential antifibrotic effect of Pirfenidone (PFD) against concanavalin A (ConA)-induced immunological model of liver fibrosis in mice.

MAIN METHODS

Hepatic fibrosis was induced in mice by injecting ConA (10 mg/kg/wk./i.v) for 4 weeks. Then, the mice were treated with or without PFD (125 mg/kg/ip/day) for 2 weeks. Hepatic fibrosis was determined by Masson Trichrome staining; Haematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining, immunohistochemistry staining of type II and IV collagens, and colorimetric assessment of hydroxyprolline (HP) content in the liver tissues. In addition, the expression of α-SMA mRNA was determined by real time RT-PCR. The serum levels of TGF-β, TNF-α, TIMP-1 and MMP-2 were measured by ELISA.

KEY FINDINGS

Treatment with PFD significantly reduced ConA-induced expression of type II and IV collagens, α-SMA mRNA expression, and HP content and decreased inflammatory cells infiltration in hepatic tissues. Furthermore, serum levels of TGF-β, TNF-α, and TIMP-1 were significantly reduced with concomitant increase in MMP-2 expression.

SIGNIFICANCE

Treatment with PFD ameliorates concanavalin A-induced hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in mice. Thus, PFD may represent a promising therapeutic option for hepatic fibrosis and its related complications.

"Let my liver rather heat with wine" - a review of hepatic fibrosis pathophysiology and emerging therapeutics

Cirrhosis is characterized by extensive hepatic fibrosis, and it is the 14th leading cause of death worldwide. Numerous contributing conditions have been implicated in its development, including infectious etiologies, medication overdose or adverse effects, ingestible toxins, autoimmunity, hemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease and primary biliary cholangitis to list a few. It is associated with portal hypertension and its stigmata (varices, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, combined coagulopathy and thrombophilia), and it is a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, orthotopic liver transplantation has been the only curative modality to treat cirrhosis, and the scarcity of donors results in many people waiting years for a transplant. Identification of novel targets for pharmacologic therapy through elucidation of key mechanistic components to induce fibrosis reversal is the subject of intense research. Development of robust models of hepatic fibrosis to faithfully characterize the interplay between activated hepatic stellate cells (the principal fibrogenic contributor to fibrosis initiation and perpetuation), hepatocytes and extracellular matrix components has the potential to identify critical components and mechanisms that can be exploited for targeted treatment. In this review, we will highlight key cellular pathways involved in the pathophysiology of fibrosis from extracellular ligands, effectors and receptors, to nuclear receptors, epigenetic mechanisms, energy homeostasis and cytokines. Further, molecular pathways of hepatic stellate cell deactivation are discussed, including apoptosis, senescence and reversal or transdifferentiation to an inactivated state resembling quiescence. Lastly, clinical evidence of fibrosis reversal induced by biologics and small molecules is summarized, current compounds under clinical trials are described and efforts for treatment of hepatic fibrosis with mesenchymal stem cells are highlighted. An enhanced understanding of the rich tapestry of cellular processes identified in the initiation, perpetuation and resolution of hepatic fibrosis, driven principally through phenotypic switching of hepatic stellate cells, should lead to a breakthrough in potential therapeutic modalities.

Histological and biochemical evaluation of transforming growth factor-β activation and its clinical significance in patients with chronic liver disease

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a key driver for liver fibrogenesis. TGF-β must be activated in order to function. Plasma kallikrein (PLK) is a TGF-β activator that cleaves the latency-associated protein (LAP) between arginine⁵⁸ and lysine⁵⁹ residues and releases active TGF-β from the latent TGF-β-LAP complex. Thus, the generation of two LAP degradation products, ending at arginine⁵⁸ (R⁵⁸/LAP-DPs) and beginning from lysine⁵⁹ (L⁵⁹/LAP-DPs), reflects PLK-dependent TGF-β activation. However, the significance and details of TGF-β activation in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) remain uncertain. We herein examined the PLK-dependent TGF-β activation in patients by detecting R⁵⁸ and L⁵⁹/LAP-DPs. A total of 234 patients with CLD were included in this study. Liver biopsy specimens were used for immunostaining to detect R⁵⁸/LAP-DPs, while plasma samples were subjected to an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure the L⁵⁹/LAP-DP concentration. R⁵⁸/LAP-DP was robustly expressed in and around the sinusoidal cells before the development of the fibrous regions. The R⁵⁸/LAP-DP expression at fibrosis stage 1 was higher than at any other stages, and the relationship between the plasma L⁵⁹/LAP-DP level and the stage of fibrosis also showed a similar trend. The abundance of plasma L⁵⁹/LAP-DP showed no correlation with the levels of direct serum biomarkers of liver fibrosis; however, its changes during interferon-based therapy for chronic hepatitis C were significantly associated with virological responses. Our results suggest that PLK-dependent TGF-β activation occurs in the early stages of fibrosis and that its unique surrogate markers, R⁵⁸ and L⁵⁹/LAP-DPs, are useful for monitoring the clinical course of CLD.

Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography: Variations of Liver Fibrosis Assessment as a Function of Depth, Force and Distance from Central Axis of the Transducer with a Comparison of Different Systems

We evaluated variation in fibrosis staging caused by depth, pre-load force and measurement off-axis distance on different ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) systems prospectively in 20 patients with diffuse liver disease. Shear wave speed (SWS) was measured with transient elastography, acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) and 2-D shear wave elastography (SWE). ARFI and 2-D-SWE measurements were obtained at different depths (3, 5 and 7 cm), with different pre-load forces (4, 7 and 10N and variable) and at 0, 2 and 4cm off the central axis of the transducer. A single, blinded pathologist staged fibrosis using the METAVIR system (F0-F4). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was charted to differentiate significant fibrosis (F ≥ 2). Depth was the only factor found to influence ARFI-derived values; no acquisition factors were found to affect 2-D-SWE SWS values. ARFI and 2-D-SWE for diagnosis of significant fibrosis at a depth of 7cm along the central axis had good diagnostic performance (areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.92 and 0.82, respectively), comparable to that of transient elastography. Further investigation of this finding will likely be of interest.

von Willebrand factor is a useful biomarker for liver fibrosis and prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma development in patients with hepatitis B and C

Background

Several noninvasive biomarkers are available for diagnosing liver fibrosis stage and predicting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. However, these biomarkers are not sufficiently accurate. Recently, von Willebrand factor (VWF) has been related to angiogenesis and apoptosis. Furthermore, VWF is associated with hepatic spare ability and HCC.

Objective

We aimed to determine whether VWF is a potential biomarker for liver fibrosis and HCC development.

Methods

Two hundred and twelve patients with chronic hepatitis B and C were recruited. VWF antigen (VWF: Ag) levels in each patient were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to determine the risk factor of HCC.

Results

The VWF: Ag levels were higher in patients with severe liver fibrosis stage and/or HCC development than in those without. The area under the curve of VWF: Ag for diagnosis of severe liver fibrosis stage was 0.721. Multivariable analysis showed that only VWF: Ag was a predictive biomarker for HCC development.

Conclusions

VWF: Ag is related to liver fibrosis and may be useful for predicting HCC development. VWF is a potentially useful biomarker to diagnose severe liver fibrosis and predict HCC development.

Quantitative assessment of hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B and C: T1 mapping on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced liver magnetic resonance imaging

AIM

To assess the accuracy of Look-Locker on gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for staging liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B/C (CHB/C).

METHODS

We prospectively included 109 patients with CHB or CHC who underwent a 3.0-Tesla MRI examination, including T1-weighted and Look-Locker sequences for T1 mapping. Hepatocyte fractions (HeF) and relaxation time reduction rate (RE) were measured for staging liver fibrosis. A receiver operating characteristic analysis using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to compare the diagnostic performance in predicting liver fibrosis between HeF and RE.

RESULTS

A total of 73 patients had both pathological results and MRI information. The number of patients in each fibrosis stage was evaluated semiquantitatively according to the METAVIR scoring system: F0, n = 23 (31.5%); F1, n = 19 (26.0%); F2, n = 13 (17.8%); F3, n = 6 (8.2%), and F4, n = 12 (16.4%). HeF by EOB enhancement imaging was significantly correlated with fibrosis stage (r = -0.808, P < 0.05). AUC values for diagnosis of any (≥ F1), significant (≥ F2) or advanced (≥ F3) fibrosis, and cirrhosis (F4) using HeF were 0.837 (0.733-0.913), 0.890 (0.795-0.951), 0.957 (0.881-0.990), and 0.957 (0.882-0.991), respectively. HeF measurement was more accurate than use of RE in establishing liver fibrosis staging, suggesting that calculation of HeF is a superior noninvasive liver fibrosis staging method.

CONCLUSION

A T1 mapping-based HeF method is an efficient diagnostic tool for the staging of liver fibrosis.

Why, who and when to start treatment for chronic hepatitis B infection

Chronic hepatitis B remains a major global health challenge due to morbidity and mortality from hepatocellular carcinoma and complications of liver cirrhosis. Current treatment regimens are non-curative and, once initiated, treatment is of indefinite duration for the majority. The decision to initiate treatment decisions is based on risk stratification. Advances in our understanding of the natural history of chronic hepatitis B have led to a paradigm shift in recommendations for treatment. Emerging non-invasive biomarkers of disease activity will further enhance disease stratification. In this review, we summarise the guidance from major international societies on treatment for chronic hepatitis B and explore some of the novel approaches to disease assessment.

Noninvasive fibrosis markers and chronic kidney disease among adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver in USA

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Studies have shown that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, it is unknown whether severe liver fibrosis is associated with a higher prevalence of CKD among NAFLD. We examined the diagnostic performance of noninvasive fibrosis markers in identifying prevalent CKD among NAFLD.

METHODS

This study represents an analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in the USA between 1988 and 1994. NAFLD was defined by ultrasonographic evidence of hepatic steatosis without other liver diseases. CKD was defined by estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m. The presence and severity of hepatic fibrosis were determined by the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS), FIB-4 score, APRI score, and BARD score. Multiple logistic regression was performed to generate odds ratios (ORs) and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess the predictive values of each marker.

RESULTS

A total of 4142 individuals with NAFLD were included; 200 (4.8%) had CKD. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves was 0.77, 0.75, 0.62, and 0.51 for the multivariable equation with FIB-4, NFS, BARD, and APRI score, respectively. Compared with patients with a low probability of developing advanced liver fibrosis, individuals with a high probability of developing fibrosis showed significantly increased odds of CKD as estimated by NFS (adjusted OR: 4.92, 95% confidence interval: 2.96-8.15) and FIB-4 (adjusted OR: 2.27, 95% confidence interval: 1.05-4.52).

CONCLUSION

Advanced liver fibrosis, defined by NFS and FIB-4 scores, is associated independently with CKD among individuals with NAFLD. FIB-4 is the best predictor of an increased risk of prevalent CKD.

Comparing the efficiency of Fib-4, Egy-score, APRI, and GUCI in liver fibrosis staging in Egyptians with chronic hepatitis C

Assessment of hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C virus patients by liver biopsy is not widely accepted despite its accuracy, being invasive, carrying complications, and adding cost. This paved the way to development and use of non-invasive markers of fibrosis in diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis. We aimed at evaluating the efficiency of Fib-4, Egy-score, Aspartate-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and Göteborg University Cirrhosis Index (GUCI) in comparison to liver biopsy, in the assessment of hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients. This was a cross sectional study including 200 chronic HCV patients were divided into two groups according to stage of fibrosis (Metavir score) into non-significant fibrosis (<F2) and significant fibrosis (≥F2). Reference needle liver biopsy was compared to Fib-4, Egyscore, APRI, and GUCI. Older age (P < 0.001) and higher BMI (P = 0.005) were significantly related to significant fibrosis and positively correlated with fibrosis progression (r = 0.361, P = 0.000, and r = 0.165, P = 0.019 respectively). Fib-4 >1.27, APRI >0.48, Egy-score >0.73, and GUCI >0.57 significantly predict significant fibrosis (P < 0.01). Fib-4 carries the best performance and significant reliability with AUROC 0.783, sensitivity 74%, specificity 69%, PPV 0.55, and NPV 0.86. The addition of BMI to Fib-4 improved the significant fibrosis AUROC curve performance but did not reach statistical significant improvement. We concluded that age and BMI are good predictors of hepatic fibrosis. Fib-4 (>1.27) is the best method of prediction of significant fibrosis compared to Egy-score, APRI, and GUCI. Addition of BMI to Fib-4 did not improve diagnostic value of Fib-4.

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Liver Steatosis and Fibrosis after Oral Hepatotoxicant Administration in Sprague-Dawley Rats

The past decade has seen an increase in the development and clinical use of biomarkers associated with histological features of liver disease. Here, we conduct a comparative histological and global proteomics analysis to identify coregulated modules of proteins in the progression of hepatic steatosis or fibrosis. We orally administered the reference chemicals bromobenzene (BB) or 4,4'-methylenedianiline (4,4'-MDA) to male Sprague-Dawley rats for either 1 single administration or 5 consecutive daily doses. Livers were preserved for histopathology and global proteomics assessment. Analysis of liver sections confirmed a dose- and time-dependent increase in frequency and severity of histopathological features indicative of lipid accumulation after BB or fibrosis after 4,4'-MDA. BB administration resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the frequency and severity of inflammation and vacuolation. 4,4'-MDA administration resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the frequency and severity of periportal collagen accumulation and inflammation. Pathway analysis identified a time-dependent enrichment of biological processes associated with steatogenic or fibrogenic initiating events, cellular functions, and toxicological states. Differentially expressed protein modules were consistent with the observed histology, placing physiologically linked protein networks into context of the disease process. This study demonstrates the potential for protein modules to provide mechanistic links between initiating events and histopathological outcomes.

PRO-C3: a new and more precise collagen marker for liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C

OBJECTIVE

Detecting significant fibrosis and cirrhosis remains important in treatment and follow-up of patients with chronic hepatitis C Infection (CHC). The aim of this study was to assess the ability of PRO-C3 to identify significant fibrosis (Ishak score ≥3) and cirrhosis (Ishak score ≥5) both as a single test and as a part of algorithms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PRO-C3 was assessed in baseline samples from the NORDynamIC trial. 270 patients were stratified into groups according to baseline biopsy. Baseline APRI, FIB-4 and GUCI scores were available for comparison in 232 patients.

RESULTS

PRO-C3 increased with Ishak scores (p = .001). Area under the curve (AUC) for significant fibrosis was 0.75 (95% CI 0.68-0.81) and 0.76 (95% CI 0.68-0.84) for cirrhosis. FIB-4, APRI and GUCI had similar AUCs. In a PRO-C3 algorithm including age, platelet count, body mass index (BMI) and international normalised ratio (INR), the diagnostic efficacy improved to 0.85 (CI 0.80-0.89) and 0.90 (IQR 0.84-0.96) for significant fibrosis and cirrhosis, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, PRO-C3 was an independent predictor of fibrosis stage, and may play an important role in managing CHC patients.